Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade – A Must See
The 3rd Street Promenade is an upmarket, pedestrian-only, alfresco shopping destination in the heart of Santa Monica in Los Angeles, California. It attracts crowds from across the greater Los Angeles area. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and historic Santa Monica Pier.
It is a very romantic street, lined by restaurants and shops, which normally stay open late, and there are also bars and cafès. What’s more, the 3rd Street Promenade boasts several state-of-the-art theatres, including AMC, Loews, and Mann Theatres.
It is also home to the biggest certified organic farmers’ market that takes place every Wednesday and Saturday. The evenings and weekends are especially vibrant with music and street performers. Saturday evenings in the summer are typically characterized by magicians, classical guitar players, singer-songwriters, hip-hop dancers, clowns, session drummers, lounge singers, and other artists lining up about 40 feet to 50 feet apart from each other all along Third Street.
With all these fun and entertaining features, the 3rd Street Promenade is definitely a must-visit whenever you go to Santa Monica. In recent times, however, the shopping destination has been facing stiff competition from other alfresco malls across Southern California.
To help keep up with the rapidly increasing competition, the City of Santa Monica has laid out a comprehensive plan to refurbish one of its most popular destinations. Below is a look at some of the improvements that the Santa Monica Planning Commission plans to undertake on the street in both the short- and long-term.
- Constructing new shade and water features
- Building parklets to provide casual seating and public gathering areas
- Public art installations
- Games, such as foosball and ping pong tables
- Movable furniture
- Seasonal pavilions
- Food & drink festivals
- Light-art festivals
In the long-term, the City of Santa Monica looks to accomplish the following for its iconic pedestrian mall:
- Shared outdoor dining spaces
- Interactive water features and fireplaces
- Performance platforms, such as stages, swings, hammocks, and play elements
- Permanent seating and public gathering areas
- Fitness facilities
- Outdoor demonstration kitchens
- Public gardens, planters, and shade structures
- Vantage points or elevated walkways
- Pop-up restaurants and retail kiosks
- Bioswales and other green infrastructure
- Enhanced pedestrian safety
- Interactive lighting
The renovation plan is not only focused on infrastructure but also on various policies, such as licensing and retail tenanting policies.
Despite the face-lift plans, the 3rd Street Promenade remains a shopper’s paradise and a moviegoers haven. So, next time you visit the beachside city, spare some time to browse the selection of stores in the vehicle-free street. Some of the biggest players include Apple Store, Lululemon, as well as Abercrombie & Fitch.
If you are looking for something to eat, the Gallery Food Hall offers you a tantalizing selection of outdoor and indoor dining options. If you feel like watching a movie, there are at least 20 movie theater screens to choose from. Other family-friendly features that may tickle your fancy include animal topiaries and street entertainment.